Graphite One Inc. announces it has entered into a non-binding initial Memorandum of Understanding with battery materials recycler Lab 4 Inc. of Nova Scotia, Canada, whereby Graphite One and Lab 4 propose to collaboratively work together to design, develop and build a recycling facility for end-of-life EV and lithium ion batteries. Lab 4 Inc. provides laboratory and engineering support to mining companies with a focus to recycle graphite, manganese and other minerals. The recycling facility would be located adjacent to Graphite One’s planned advanced materials manufacturing plant in Washington State.
“With this new proposed recycling division joining our Graphite Creek mine and Advanced Graphite Materials Manufacturing Plant as the third link, Graphite One plans to bring the full circular economy to the U.S. graphite supply chain,” said Anthony Huston, President and CEO of Graphite One. “When you’re in the renewable energy space, you’ve got to think through the whole lifecycle – where will EV and lithium-ion batteries go when they are no longer useful? It can’t be to the landfill. That’s not responsible. Battery materials are simply too critical and too scarce to let them go to waste. That all points to recycling battery materials – and for Graphite One, this pointed us to Lab 4 and their ground-breaking work to recycle these materials right back into our planned manufacturing plant. With this new partnership, Graphite One would be the only fully integrated domestic supply chain for graphite to accommodate the different requirements of battery companies.”
“Lab 4 Inc. is excited to have this opportunity to work with Graphite One to develop state-of-the-art battery recycling capability. The return of battery materials within the industry, or to new uses and applications, is critical to the materials supply chain as the electrification of everything accelerates,” said Dr. Ian Flint, CEO of Lab 4 Inc. “Adding recycling to renewable materials development is the missing piece in a true circular economy. We look forward to a partnership that sets a new standard for the renewable energy sector.”